Deep gray matter perfusion in multiple sclerosis: dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T

OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence of perfusion abnormalities in the deep gray matter of patients with relapsing-remitting and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in comparison with healthy controls and to investigate the impact of perfusion impairment on clinical disability and fatigue. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Research-oriented hospital. Patients Twenty-two patients with MS and 11 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Intervention Absolute cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time were measured in the thalamus, putamen, and caudate nuclei. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Decrease of cerebral blood flow in the deep gray matter of patients with MS and correlation between perfusion impairment and the severity of fatigue. RESULTS: The cerebral blood flow value averaged over the thalamus, putamen, and caudate nuclei was significantly lower in patients with primary progressive MS (P.30). The fatigue score was significantly correlated with cerebral blood flow (r = 0.4; P